Broke Down

Our truck is broke down.  This past Monday, as I was on my way to the Tabitha House in Guatemala City, my truck broke down on the side of the road in San Lucas, Sacatepequez.  I had to have a wrecker pick it up and take it back to San Pedro for me.  The camshaft is broken in two pieces.  There are some other parts that are also broken.  I am searching for some used parts and hopefully will have it up and running by next week.  We had to call off youth group last night.  The teens that come on Thursday nights are between the ages of 12 and 14.  It is too dangerous for them to walk home at night.  We thought it best to just call it off for this week.  I am still trying to decide about the youth group for tonight.  They are all wanting to come really bad, but I think it is too dangerous for them as well.  They are between the ages of 15 and 18.  I am using my motorcycle to drive back and forth around Antigua and to the City for now.  Everything is going fine with that, I just can´t take the help that usually goes with me each week.  Please be in prayer that the truck will be fixed soon.  It is a crucial part of our ministry work each week.  It is used to carry people back and forth to church on Sundays, for the youth on Thursdays and Fridays, and for Tabitha House and Esteban House in the City on Wednesdays and Thursdays.  Thanks for the prayers and have a blessed weekend!

September Update

It’s coming on the end of September.  The rain is heavy and long each day now as the rainy season is coming to an end as well.  Brayden and Brianna are finishing up school with only one month left in this school year.  Kim and I have been looking at some different options for Brayden for the new school year which starts in January.  The private school that they both attend is a very good school and it is bilingual, but it is also very expensive.  We are looking at some other private school options for him to attend next year that are about half the cost where he has attended the past two years.  Brianna still needs a bilingual school.  So we will send her another year to the same private bilingual school.

We are all ready for our visit home to Alabama in November.  We have had a busy year and are ready for a break and to see family and friends.  During our trip home in November we will be sharing at several churches.  We are not going to overbook ourselves as we did last year as we shared at ten different churches in a four week time period.  This year we plan to share at four or five churches and to get to spend a little more time visiting with family.  We will also be working on raising the needed support for another year in the field. 

Our ministry has many needs as it continues to grow.  We are in need of a 12 or 15 passenger van.  We have $8,500 saved so far towards this ministry expense.  We are looking at a goal of between $10,000 and $15,000 to get us the dependable van we are looking for.  This ministry van will be used every week to pick up and drop off families in our Sunday bus route.  Currently, we are using our pick-up truck to haul passengers back and forth.  It will also be used each week to pick up and drop off teenagers on Thursday and Friday nights.  Again, we are currently using our truck and making multiple trips on these nights for our youth group.  The ministry van would also be used to help the church when they need to make group trips to Guatemala City for conferences and association activities.  In addition, it would be used for all mission teams that come and visit from the States.  This would save us money in the long run with not having to rent a van each time a group comes to visit.

Our ministry is also in need of land to purchase for a future missions compound.  We are currently renting two houses to meet our needs.  Our vision is to purchase a piece of property large enough to build a mission team house, missionary family house, fellowship/dining hall (to be used for the youth to meet as well), and a work shed.  The first plan is to buy the land and then start building one thing at a time as the funds are available. 

We are very thankful for all those who partner with us financially.  You are the ones that pay our bills.  You send our kids to school, put food on our table, put fuel in our truck, support many families and provide improvements to many homes, and much more.  We know that without your help none of this would be possible.  In order for us to be able to continue to live in Guatemala as missionaries we need your continual support.  We need churches, families, and individuals to partner with us on a monthly basis.

The Joy of Tabitha

 The joy of the Tabitha House is something that you cannot describe well in words.  You have to experience it firsthand.  With being blessed to get the opportunity to work with these children on a weekly basis, I can clearly say that they bring me joy.  Every week when I walk through the front door I am greeted with a big welcome song from each class, and a hug from each child.  That is how I start my days at Tabitha.  Always with a big smile and big hug.  It tends to warm the heart with receiving such love as these children give.  Without going into much detail, I can say that each of these children come from some of the worst homes, living conditions, and abuse that any of us could ever begin to even imagine.  The Tabitha House has rescued these children from having to spend their entire day in the city dump rummaging through peoples garbage for what they can find.  At Tabitha they receive love from their teachers, two meals per day, learn Christian songs, Bible, learn some of the things that a preschooler might learn in school, and much more.  I have watched many of these children grow up over the past 4 years.  I have also watched how Tabitha has grown and how the children have constantly changed for the good in so many different ways.  They feel a sense of "safety" when they walk through the doors and always receive love.  I think of the scripture that Matthew wrote in Matthew 19:14, But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for such is the kingdom of heaven.  I like the way the NIV puts it, Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these".  Jesus would welcome all the dirty, poor, sinful children that others would not.  Jesus' own disciples were turning these children away as the people were bringing them to Jesus to lay hands on them and bless them by praying for them.  I ask you who are reading this to take a few minutes of your time and scroll down through the photos on this page.  As you do so, pray for them.  You may not know their names or their situations, but you can pray on their behalf.  Pray for their safety.  Pray for their health.  Pray for their decisions.  And pray most of all for their eternal life.